Are bruising and darker veins normal sclerotherapy results?

I have done my first sclerotherapy treatment two weeks ago. I have healed from most bruising but I feel that the veins are now darker and more visible. Is that normal? I had to be in the sun recently, but used a lot of sunscreen and covered my legs with a long skirt.

Veins can appear darker after treatment. That is why we wait at least one month between treatments to allow fading to occur. Sometimes this may be due to trapped blood and removing it will improve the appearance quicker.

Veins can appear darker after treatment. That is why we wait at least one month between treatments to allow fading to occur. Sometimes this may be due to trapped blood and removing it will improve the appearance quicker.

It is normal for successfully treated veins to temporarily appear darker than before treatment. Larger veins get darker and take longer to fade. If a vein briefly blanches (disappears) after rubbing over it with your
finger, it did not respond and needs further treatment; if a vein persists with this maneuver, it is done and will fade in time.

It is normal for successfully treated veins to temporarily appear darker than before treatment. Larger veins get darker and take longer to fade. If a vein briefly blanches (disappears) after rubbing over it with your
finger, it did not respond and needs further treatment; if a vein persists with this maneuver, it is done and will fade in time.

4 years ago by
The Vein Clinic

Yes, it is! Many of the veins that now look 'worse' will begin to fade over the next 1-2 months.You are watching the early stages of Sclerotherapy - and its often not pretty in the beginning!

4 years ago by The Vein Clinic

Yes, it is! Many of the veins that now look 'worse' will begin to fade over the next 1-2 months.You are watching the early stages of Sclerotherapy - and its often not pretty in the beginning!

With the information in your question, it is very difficult to give you an exact answer to your inquiry. You may have trapped blood or may need more treatment. Without pertinent patient history and evaluating your legs in person, we are not able to say what is normal or not. Please follow up with your physician.

With the information in your question, it is very difficult to give you an exact answer to your inquiry. You may have trapped blood or may need more treatment. Without pertinent patient history and evaluating your legs in person, we are not able to say what is normal or not. Please follow up with your physician.

More pigmentation is common for a few months after injection. See your MD for questions about post-treatment issues.

4 years ago by
Intermountain Vein Center

The darker appearance is from the sclerotherapy treatment. It's just temporary staining of the veins, and it will eventually disappear. It may take a few weeks to a few months before the staining will disappear completely.

4 years ago by Intermountain Vein Center

The darker appearance is from the sclerotherapy treatment. It's just temporary staining of the veins, and it will eventually disappear. It may take a few weeks to a few months before the staining will disappear completely.

The larger veins can "bronze" after treatment, this occurs when the trapped blood stains the skin with iron products. It goes away with time. This may be what is happening. Sometimes the trapped blood can be expressed through small needle pokes which decreases the bronzing. If the dark look is in the smaller spider veins, you may just need more healing time. It takes usuallly 30 days for the body to reabsorb small amounts of blood after the injections. Have your legs checked by the physician's office who performed your treatment.

4 years ago by The Vascular Institute at Teton Radiology (View Profile)

The larger veins can "bronze" after treatment, this occurs when the trapped blood stains the skin with iron products. It goes away with time. This may be what is happening. Sometimes the trapped blood can be expressed through small needle pokes which decreases the bronzing. If the dark look is in the smaller spider veins, you may just need more healing time. It takes usuallly 30 days for the body to reabsorb small amounts of blood after the injections. Have your legs checked by the physician's office who performed your treatment.

Yes, this is normal. Although the veins are likely "dead" from the treatment, it may take several weeks for them to fade away as they are absorbed by your body. Be patient, and the darkening and visibility should resolve over time.

Yes, this is normal. Although the veins are likely "dead" from the treatment, it may take several weeks for them to fade away as they are absorbed by your body. Be patient, and the darkening and visibility should resolve over time.

In our practice we spend a lot of time with our patients so they will know what to expect at each treatment. We explain that an average area of veins can take 3-5 treatments, that veins can look worse before they begin to look better, and that there may not be too much clearing after the first or even second treatment. This is variable. Yes, they can look darker. Kudos to you for using strong sun protection. Whenever your skin integrity has been compromised (by injection/laser) you increase the chance of hyper-pigmentation in those areas if exposed to the sun. If you are having the follow-up treatment, continue to do so. We also recommend a follow up treatment at around 4 weeks to ensure all the veins (especially the deeper feeder veins) are sealed. If not, we re-inject. At this stage, we see patients in 6-8 weeks or in the fall when it cools down.

In our practice we spend a lot of time with our patients so they will know what to expect at each treatment. We explain that an average area of veins can take 3-5 treatments, that veins can look worse before they begin to look better, and that there may not be too much clearing after the first or even second treatment. This is variable. Yes, they can look darker. Kudos to you for using strong sun protection. Whenever your skin integrity has been compromised (by injection/laser) you increase the chance of hyper-pigmentation in those areas if exposed to the sun. If you are having the follow-up treatment, continue to do so. We also recommend a follow up treatment at around 4 weeks to ensure all the veins (especially the deeper feeder veins) are sealed. If not, we re-inject. At this stage, we see patients in 6-8 weeks or in the fall when it cools down.

4 years ago by
Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Yes, it may happen. As the veins close, they trap some blood inside and may look darker. As long as they do not blanch on compression, they are closed.

4 years ago by Veins etc. at Comprehensive Cardiovascular Consultants

Yes, it may happen. As the veins close, they trap some blood inside and may look darker. As long as they do not blanch on compression, they are closed.

Depending on skin tone, the veins can appear darker after treatment. This may fade with time. Its best to have the physician who did the sclerotherapy examine the result, and advise on whether to proceed with further treatment.

Depending on skin tone, the veins can appear darker after treatment. This may fade with time. Its best to have the physician who did the sclerotherapy examine the result, and advise on whether to proceed with further treatment.

4 years ago by
Heart and Vein Center

It is very common for the veins to be darker and more noticeable for the first 4-6 weeks after sclerotherapy.

4 years ago by Heart and Vein Center

It is very common for the veins to be darker and more noticeable for the first 4-6 weeks after sclerotherapy.

Without seeing your legs it is difficult to answer your question. That being said, however, it may be that you have trapped blood in your vessels. If so, you should go back to your doctor, as it may be possible to remove the trapped blood. Even if it can no longer be removed, the body will still eventually clear the vein, but it will take a while.

Without seeing your legs it is difficult to answer your question. That being said, however, it may be that you have trapped blood in your vessels. If so, you should go back to your doctor, as it may be possible to remove the trapped blood. Even if it can no longer be removed, the body will still eventually clear the vein, but it will take a while.

This is normal. Following sclerotherapy, veins usually look worse before they look better. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for healing post sclerotherapy. You should avoid sun exposure for at least 2 weeks after sclerotherapy.

This is normal. Following sclerotherapy, veins usually look worse before they look better. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for healing post sclerotherapy. You should avoid sun exposure for at least 2 weeks after sclerotherapy.

It sounds like you are having a completely normal response for two weeks post sclerotherapy treatment. It can take 6-8 weeks and sometimes even longer for the spider veins and dark spots to fade following treatment. Keep in mind, the spider veins treated will not all fade following a single treatment. Three to six treatments are needed in order to obtain the best results. Staying out of the sun is extremely important until all darkening in the treated areas has resolved. Otherwise, darkened areas may last even longer.

It sounds like you are having a completely normal response for two weeks post sclerotherapy treatment. It can take 6-8 weeks and sometimes even longer for the spider veins and dark spots to fade following treatment. Keep in mind, the spider veins treated will not all fade following a single treatment. Three to six treatments are needed in order to obtain the best results. Staying out of the sun is extremely important until all darkening in the treated areas has resolved. Otherwise, darkened areas may last even longer.

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